Have you ever felt yourself being in tune with other people’s emotions, so much that they are affecting how you, yourself feel? Ever feel like you are being pulled along by an undercurrent of feelings that are not your own? If this sounds familiar, then you may well be an empath.

What is an Empath?

An empath isn’t someone who is simply a bit oversensitive. An empath is a person who is deeply affected by other people’s moods, feelings and body energies. An empath can be deeply influenced by other people’s needs and desires, even if they conflict their own. They have a deep form of empathy. Being this in tune with other people’s feelings and emotions can have its advantages. But, it can also be very bad for your health if you cannot find a way to channel these emotions without causing extreme anxiety and ill health. Dealing with your own emotions if you are an empath can be very complicated. Finding a coping mechanism is very important.

Creating your own sanctuary

It is impossible to avoid anxious situations entirely; instead, an empath will need to create a spiritual barrier between themselves and the barrage of emotions that they are feeling. Imagine you have taken a trip to the dentists, but once you get in the chair, the nerves take over. In order to relax and calm the mind, imagine yourself on a desert island, with the waves lapping at the shore and the palm leaves rustling. In the same way, an empath must learn to mentally create their own haven, a barrier between themselves and the outside world - a personal bubble. Guided visualisation of something physical really helps, like a wall or a shelter.

Not caring is not an option

Simply telling yourself that you need to switch off and not care about anyone will not work. Living in such a way is unhealthy for the mind. The traits of an empath are such that they need to rationalise their feelings in order to understand what is going on. It is good to mentally note the reasons for someone else feeling like they do in every situation. This will help an empath in not getting swept away too. For instance, your friend is angry after a troublesome day at work. The anger in the room is so thick it is almost palpable. Understanding that your friend had a disagreement with her boss will help to deal with such a strong emotion. Finding a solution is even better, after all, empaths have been given a gift, and using that gift to make other lives better is a wonderful thing to do.